Just to clarify, I'm not a Michael Phelps fan. I love the spectacle of the Olympics, but I think that swimmers benefit from all the different events they're able to compete in. Still, I have much respect for consistency, and I think that Phelps might be one of the most disciplined athletes of our time. I hold to my hypothesis, that it was ridiculous to try to get inside Phelps' head.

I'd encourage you, if you're interested in eliminating some bad habits or creating some good ones, to get a copy of Charles Duhigg's book. It's a fascinating read that provides a systematic approach to getting better at this thing called life.